My flight from Dubai to Los Angeles was departing at 3PM, so a friend dropped me off at Terminal 3 at around 11:30AM, so I’d have plenty of time to review the lounge. Emirates has a separate drop-off area for first and business class passengers, which lets you skip the main part of the check-in hall altogether.
Dubai Airport Terminal 3 exterior
The Emirates premium check-in area is massive. First there are a bunch of red carpets for first class check-in, and then behind that are blue carpets for business class check-in.
Dubai Airport check-in hall
Emirates business class check-in Dubai Airport
After that I proceeded through immigration and passport control, which was relatively quick thanks to this checkpoint only being for premium passengers. Once through security I took the train to the A Concourse, which is Dubai Airport’s A380 concourse (though 777s depart from there as well, and not all A380s depart from that concourse).
Dubai Airport train system
After taking the train I took the elevator up to the departures level.
Dubai Airport elevators
At the top of the elevator I made a slight right turn to follow the signage towards the Emirates lounges.
Dubai Airport Terminal 3
Emirates lounges Dubai Airport
The Emirates First Class Lounge is located one level up from the main concourse, while the Emirates Business Class Lounge is located two levels up from the main concourse. While premium cabin passengers have access to these, there are still a couple options available in Dubai for those with a credit card with lounge access.
I’ve reviewed the Emirates First Class Lounge before, and it’s on my list of the world’s best first class lounges. The lounge is massive — it’s the world’s biggest first class lounge — so I was curious to see how the business class lounge compared.
At the entrance I was welcomed by a friendly associate, who reminded me that I could board my flight directly through the lounge.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport exterior
Emirates’ business class lounge in Dubai is massive. It’s so big that it needs a map, and that walking from one end to the other takes 12 minutes.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport map
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport map
That’s because the lounge spans the entire length of the terminal, as it’s essentially just two levels above the main concourse.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport concourse view
This means you can board your flight directly through the business class lounge.
Given the size of the lounge, the amenities are similar on both sides of the lounge.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport hallway
It’s tough to actually provide a detailed description of the lounge’s layout, since it’s just so massive. All over the place there are tons of seating areas, with a variety of designs.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport seating
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport seating
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport seating
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport seating
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport seating
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport seating
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport seating
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport seating
In addition to the seating areas there are gates all over the place, so some people choose to sit in the areas near their departure gate.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport seating
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport gates
There are a couple of business centers, featuring cubicles. Some have computers, and some are just empty workspaces.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport business center
There are also a few different rest areas. There are leather chairs with ottomans that have blankets for extra comfort.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport rest area
Then there are also some partitioned off relaxation areas, most of which seemed to be in use (except the one I snapped a picture of, which had clearly just been used).
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport rest area
The lounge also has a couple of play areas for kids.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport play area
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport play area
Then there are also a couple of cigar bars, which I’m sure any smoker will appreciate.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport cigar bar
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport cigar bar
In terms of food, the lounge has several stations with drinks and light snacks, like nuts, hummus, etc.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport dining area
Then there are two main dining areas. While the first class lounge features a la carte dining, the business class lounge only has a self serve buffet. There’s tons of seating in the dining areas, as you can see below.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport dining area
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport dining area
In addition to tables with seating for 2-4 people, there’s also a communal table.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport dining area
In terms of the food selection, there were several cold options, including salad, hummus, etc.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport food selection
Then there were nuts, crackers, snack mix etc.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport snacl selection
There were finger sandwiches, fresh fruit, cake, rolls, cookies, etc.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport food selection
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport food selection
There were also a variety of hot options — I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport food selection
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport food selection
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport food selection
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport food selection
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport food selection
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport food selection
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport food selection
There was a selection of self serve liquor, with mostly good brands.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport liquor selection
There was a selection of wine, as well as Moet champagne.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport wine selection
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport wine selection
Then there was a coffee machine, a selection of still and sparkling Voss water, and a fridge with Haagzen-Dazs ice cream.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport coffee machine
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport VOSS water
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport ice cream
Overall I thought the food and drink selection was reasonably good, though this is also perhaps the one area where the first class lounge is much better than the business class lounge, as it offers a proper sit-down a la carte meal.
In terms of the lounge’s other amenities, there were restrooms all over the place, including a couple with shower rooms. The shower rooms are nice enough, and each room has a sink, toilet, and shower with Timeless Spa amenities.
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport shower room
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport shower room
Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai Airport shower room
Just outside the business class lounge is the Timeless Spa. It’s not limited to Emirates passengers, but rather anyone can have a treatment there (at a cost).
Dubai Airport Six Senses Spa
Dubai Airport Six Senses Spa
As a first class passenger you receive a complimentary 15 minute treatment, while as a business class passenger you only have the option of paying for a treatment. The menu read as follows:
I decided to get a 25 minute foot massage. At $39, I didn’t think it was too unreasonably priced for an airport spa, though it wasn’t cheap either. The treatment was excellent, though.
Dubai Airport Six Senses Spa
My flight was scheduled to board from gate A24 at 2:30PM. Gate A24 was right near the entrance to the lounge, and when you board through this entrance, you simply take an elevator down two levels, and then find yourself at the jet bridge.
Emirates Business Class Lounge boarding gate
However, I opted not to board through the business class lounge for this flight. Why? Because my boarding pass had “SSSS” on it, which meant I was supposed to receive extra screening. I always try to be among the first to get on the plane so I can snap cabin pictures.
I figured if I boarded through the business class lounge I’d get my screening after boarding started, and would be among the last aboard. However, by going down to the main gate, I could get my screening done right away, and then board as soon as boarding started.
Emirates boarding gate
The strategy worked, and sure enough I ended up being the first business class passenger onboard.
Emirates business class lounge Dubai
To conclude, I’d like to share my thoughts on this lounge compared to other business class lounges, and also compared to Emirates’ first class lounge.
The Emirates business class lounge is quite similar to the first class lounge. The most noteworthy differences are:
- The first class lounge has a la carte dining with proper table service, while the business class lounge is self serve
- First class passengers get a complimentary 15 minute spa treatment, while business class passengers have to pay for treatments
- The business class lounge is more crowded than the first class lounge, though as you can see, neither lounge is anything remotely approaching “crowded”
Compared to other business class lounges, the lounge is impressive and well designed. You have to love the fact that you can board your flight directly through the lounge, which is very convenient. Beyond that, the lounge has so many different zones to relax in, and wasn’t at all crowded.
That being said, the lounge is so big that it almost doesn’t feel like a lounge. It almost feels like a nice terminal, as you forget you’re in a lounge and not in an airport. I also don’t love the decor. It’s not bad, but for a lounge that’s only a few years old, I would have personally decorated it differently. Then again, it’s very much Emirates’ style.
If you’ve visited Emirates’ business class lounge in Dubai, what was your experience like?
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